The relationship between strategy and fundraising in higher education : toward a new theoretical model

Fundraising is a multi-billion phenomenon in American higher education. However, despite its crucial importance, it remains one of the least studied aspects of higher education. When it is studied, the studies focus heavily on donor motivation and similar tactical issues – as opposed to studying fundraising as a strategic phenomenon, a phenomenon that impacts the academic enterprise as a whole. Considering the gap between the importance of fundraising on one hand and the stagnating discussion about it in the academic literature on the other hand, there is a clear need to contribute fresh insights and generate new debates in academic research on the subject. This study seeks to do so in two ways. First, it proposes a theory-driven answer to the question of why do universities need fundraising. The proposed answer is the conceptual framework of dynamic capabilities. By introducing this new framework that treats fundraising as a strategic phenomenon, the study strengthens the foundations of the research and extends it beyond its traditional focus on donor motivation and related issues. Moreover, it connects the research to voluminous literature in the discipline of strategic management, opening up more opportunities for interdisciplinary research. Second, the study presents the findings of an exploratory qualitative study of a potential relationship between fundraising and strategy in higher education. The probe investigated three cases of major gifts to three academic institutions: a research university, an emerging research university, and a health institution. The empirical findings and the contributions resulting from them could serve as a launching pad for more empirical research in the area. Following the maxim that nothing is as useful as good theory, the study also aims to inform and inspire fundraising practitioners to consider the study’s theoretical underpinnings and empirical findings in their strategic decisions and actions. Finally, the significance of this study may go beyond fundraising. At its basic level, this is a study of the character of strategy in higher education, and of how (if at all) do academic institutions turn strategy into action. The conceptual framework and empirical findings reported in this paper may inform future research in this area.Educational Administratio

A model for evaluating the institutional costs and benefits of ICT initiatives in teaching and learning in higher education

Significant investments are being made in the application of new information and communications technologies (ICT) to teaching and learning in higher education. However, until recently, there has been little progress in devising an integrated cost‐benefit model that decision‐makers can use to appraise ICT investment options from the wider institutional perspective. This paper describes and illustrates a model that has been developed to enable evaluations of the costs and benefits of the use of ICT. The strengths and limitations of the model are highlighted and discussed

Using the markstrat business simulation to develop strategic management behaviours

It is well understood that experiential learning provides an incentive and impetus for accelerated learning, especially in humanities and business-focussed studies. ICT-based synthetic and virtual environments can provide a rich and varied context within which to achieve this. Specifically, this paper attempts to provide empirical, survey-based analysis of the application of a business simulation game, MarkStrat, on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in this vein. The paper subsequently posits the pedagogic benefit of using such business simulation games for the development of strategic management behaviours across student sample populations and derives subsequent results to highlight associated learning behaviours

Catalysts of university social responsability into strategic planning by thematic analysis and deductive coding

The relevance of higher education institutions (HEI) for social development is unquestionable because of their potential for contributing intellectual solutions for the social, economic, and environmental welfare of society. The current study aims to: 1) examine which are the main catalysts of university social responsibility (USR) from a strategic management perspective; 2) show the relations among those catalysts through semantic networks; and 3) analyse the role of university promotion of entrepreneurship. The method uses a content analysis in a sample of 23 universities and examines the subject and codes to clarify the catalysts. The semantic networks are shown to reveal these connections. It was found that a high percentage of universities orient their efforts towards enhancing the employability of students, mainly through entrepreneurial projects intended to achieve social responsibility.Postprint (author's final draft

Strategies for sustainable socio-economic development and mechanisms their implementation in the global dimension

The authors of the book have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to effectively use modern approaches to developing and implementation strategies of sustainable socio-economic development in order to increase efficiency and competitiveness of economic entities. Basic research focuses on economic diagnostics of socio-economic potential and financial results of economic entities, transition period in the economy of individual countries and ensuring their competitiveness, assessment of educational processes and knowledge management. The research results have been implemented in the different models and strategies of supply and logistics management, development of non-profit organizations, competitiveness of tourism and transport, financing strategies for small and medium-sized enterprises, cross-border cooperation. The results of the study can be used in decision-making at the level the economic entities in different areas of activity and organizational-legal forms of ownership, ministries and departments that promote of development the economic entities on the basis of models and strategies for sustainable socio-economic development. The results can also be used by students and young scientists in modern concepts and mechanisms for management of sustainable socio-economic development of economic entities in the condition of global economic transformations and challenges

Management training, strategic planning effectiveness and the growth of start-ups and early-growth firms

This working paper focuses on the strategic planning practice and the relation between strategic planning effectiveness and the business growth of two groups of start-ups and early growth firms in Flanders (Belgium): represented by, firstly, a test group of business-owners that participate in one of the most successful management training programs for starters and early growth firms (hereafter referred to as ADEPT), and, secondly, a randomly selected and matched but control group of SME-start-ups and early growth firms on the basis of start-up year (period 1987-1996), age, size, industry, and location (hereafter called NOVICE). Support is found for the relationship between [1] the scope and sophistication of strategic planning and the level of strategic planning correctness and strategic accuracy, and [2] between these strategic planning dimensions and the growth pattern of these start-ups and early growth firms

Priorities in public relations research: An international Delphi study

A Delphi study on the priorities for public relations research, conducted in 2007 amongst academics, practitioners and senior executives of professional and industry bodies in five continents, has ranked the ten most important topics for research and proposed the associated research questions. This is the first completed Delphi study into public relations research since Synnott and McKie (1997) which was itself a development of earlier studies of this type by McElreath (1980, 1989 and 1994). Some of the outcomes are comparable with the earlier studies; for instance, evaluation of public relations programmes ranks third in 2007 and was amongst the leaders in the Synnott and McKie (1997) study. After piloting, twenty six public relations topics were chosen. These were sent by email to the Delphi panel. After three rounds of intensive email debate, the Top Ten public relation research topics were in ranked order: 1) Public relations’ role in contributing to strategic decision-making, strategy development and realisation, and organisational functioning 2) The value that public relations creates for organisations through building social capital, managing key relationships and realising organisational advantage 3) The measurement and evaluation of public relations, both offline and online 4) Public relations as a fundamental management function 5) Professional skills in public relations; analysis of the industry’s need for education 6) Research into standards of performance among PR professionals; the licensing of practitioners 7) Management of corporate reputation; measurement of reputation 8) Ethics in public relations 9) Integration of public relations with other communication functions; the scope of public relations practice; discipline boundaries 10) Management of relationship